Trans Etiquette: When is a Compliment Not a Compliment?

July 29, 2010 by Matt Kailey

http://tranifesto.com/2010/07/29/trans-etiquette-when-is-a-compliment-not-a-compliment/#more-3327

It's not tough to compliment trans people. Like anyone else, we like to be told that we look nice, or that you love our new shirt, or that we did a good job on our speech or our term paper or winning the World Series.

But there is a confusingly fine line when it comes to certain compliments doled out by non-trans people – and that confusingly fine line might be enough to discourage compliments at all!

The problem comes in when I come out. And the problematic conversation goes something like this: